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The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. 1 Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 80 Ratings

  • Summary: Curated by Lorde (who also sings on four songs), the soundtrack to the third film of the Hunger Games franchise includes songs from Bat For Lashes, Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, Charli XCX, The Chemical Brothers, Chvrches, Ariana Grande, Haim, Grace Jones, Duran Duran's Simon LeBon,Curated by Lorde (who also sings on four songs), the soundtrack to the third film of the Hunger Games franchise includes songs from Bat For Lashes, Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, Charli XCX, The Chemical Brothers, Chvrches, Ariana Grande, Haim, Grace Jones, Duran Duran's Simon LeBon, Major Lazer, Miguel, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Raury, Stromae, Tinashe, Tove Lo, and xoV. Collapse
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 8
  2. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Nov 18, 2014
    80
    Thanks to [Lorde's] vision, and her grip on the series' most important thematic elements, the 50 minutes of music behind Mockingjay Part 1 ably function as both a glance at 2014's finest purveyors of complex, downcast pop and a complement to the start of the series' chaotic, brutal conclusion.
  2. 80
    This is more than just a superior soundtrack album, and the 18-year-old prodigy can mark it off as another job expertly done. Her approach to alternative pop music is frighteningly adventurous.
  3. Dec 4, 2014
    80
    [A] lovingly crafted, adventurous soundtrack that easily stands on its own merits.
  4. Nov 18, 2014
    75
    Like the best of such collections, it connects enough dots to leave a listener sated and educated when it's over.
  5. Dec 18, 2014
    70
    What ties it all together is a brooding intensity that fits perfectly with The Hunger Games' dystopic mood.
  6. Dec 8, 2014
    70
    Standouts are plentiful, with Lorde herself contributing both the propulsive centerpiece "Yellow Flicker Beat" and a cover of Bright Eyes' "Ladder Song." "Yellow Flicker Beat" also gets the remix treatment from Kanye West, his more minimal reworking of the song credited as "Flicker."
  7. Mockingjay has a distinct ’80s feel, evident in its more-is-more approach.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Nov 20, 2014
    10
    great soundtracks, really powerful songs from varied genres of music. this is a great mix and depicts the mockingjay's story very well. as agreat soundtracks, really powerful songs from varied genres of music. this is a great mix and depicts the mockingjay's story very well. as a curator, good job lorde Expand
  2. Dec 5, 2014
    10
    Lorde kills it again. Just like Love Club EP and Pure Heroine, I put this in the machine and keep it on spin. Bravo.
    P.S. I like the "Animal"
    Lorde kills it again. Just like Love Club EP and Pure Heroine, I put this in the machine and keep it on spin. Bravo.
    P.S. I like the "Animal" pitchfork be damned
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  3. Jun 21, 2017
    10
    It's a tragedy they didn't include all these songs in the actual film as Lorde lay the conditions for an epic, surreal viewing experienceIt's a tragedy they didn't include all these songs in the actual film as Lorde lay the conditions for an epic, surreal viewing experience through the sonic beauty of this album. Expand
  4. Apr 20, 2015
    8
    this album abstractly reflects the entire film , with a perfect performance thanks to Lord , incredible lyrics and vocals as the charli XCXthis album abstractly reflects the entire film , with a perfect performance thanks to Lord , incredible lyrics and vocals as the charli XCX great , great album Expand
  5. Nov 19, 2014
    7
    The soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. I—curated by Ella Yelich-O'Connor AKA Lorde or more appropriately, Kiwi's "Queen ofThe soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Pt. I—curated by Ella Yelich-O'Connor AKA Lorde or more appropriately, Kiwi's "Queen of Alternative"—departs from the more melancholy, rock oriented environment of its predecessors by equally appealing to the District's dancefloors and to the District's Pitchfork publication—if it has one—with its ray of EDM influences and ray of critically acclaimed acts such as CHVRCHES, Charli XCX, Bat For Lashes, Pusha T, Miguel, and of course, Lorde herself. Needless to say, it's an impressive line-up.

    The disappointments aren't out of sight—Major Lazer and Ariana Grande's collaboration on "All My Love" could've sounded created on paper, but unfortunately, it results in one of Major Lazer's safest and most commerce-hungry productions to date—however, its highlights can be equally as effective. The bubbly, 'call-to-arms' chorus on CHVRCHES' "Dead Air", Charli XCX's whimsical collaboration with Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij, and lead single "Yellow Flicker Beat"'s musical makeover by Yeezus himself, decorating Lorde's signature smoky vocals in dark harmonies and minimal electronic 808s.
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  6. Nov 19, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was really disappointed when I listened to the Catching Fire soundtrack. But when the news came that Lorde will be choosing the songs for the Mockingjay soundtrack, I had some renewed faith that the soundtrack will remain faithful to the trilogy since Lorde herself is a fan of The Hunger Games trilogy. Well, the soundtrack didn't meet up some of my expectations but it's easily better than the Catching Fire soundtrack.

    Let me start by pointing out the same problem I had with the Catching Fire soundtrack which was the inappropriate upbeat music. The upbeat music somehow do not fit with the tone of the trilogy, especially that Mockingjay will be a much more darker story.

    However to appreciate the soundtrack, you have to listen closely to the lyrics as they're important to make sure the lyrics are relevant to the movie.

    There were a few songs in the soundtrack that I feel like they're fillers since they have little or no connection to the trilogy (All My Love by Major Lazer feat. Ariana Grande, Original Beast by Grace Jones) There were many songs in the soundtrack that while not entirely related to the trilogy, there is a significant connection to the trilogy like Lost Souls by Raury, The Leap by Tinashe etc. And there were a few songs in the soundtrack that is really connected to the trilogy very well.

    This soundtrack is mostly told from Katniss's perspective. Scream My Name by Tove Lo fits Katniss' depression and her curiosity if she will be remembered if she was dead. Kingdom by Charli XCX featuring Simon Le Bon is one of the highlights of the soundtrack as it fits Katniss' loneliness without Peeta.

    And lastly, the lead single for the soundtrack Yellow Flicker Beat by Lorde is obviously about Katniss' tough ambition as the Mockingjay for everyone in Panem and making sure nobody stands in the way to get what she wants and that includes killing President Snow herself for everything he did that tried to damaged her entirely as a person. Kanye West's remix of the song did the original song justice in a much more darker way, especially that it fits with the dark themes of Mockingjay.

    Even though this soundtrack is mostly told from Katniss' perspective, there were two songs in the soundtrack that focuses on different people from the trilogy which was nice to hear. The opening track which was the five way collaboration from French singer Stromae, Lorde, Pusha T, Q-Tip and HAIM which was Meltdown is told from the point of view from the Capitol rebels in which they can't enjoy the privileges that Capitol gave them as they know that the Capitol is corrupted and they feel guilty that the rest of Panem can't enjoy the same freedom as they have so they decided to take a stand against the Capitol hoping to grant everyone in Panem freedom. And the penultimate track This is Not a Game by The Chemical Brothers feat. Miguel feels like it's told from one of the characters from the movie which was about Boggs' perspective to Katniss as he takes responsibility as a leader of their group for the revelation. The dark electronic music as well as the obvious lyrics to the movie fits right to the tone of both parts of the Mockingjay movies, especially on the second part of the movie.

    Despite its inappropriate upbeat music at times, Lorde managed to get the right notes for most of the relevant songs she selected for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 Soundtrack.
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  7. Jul 16, 2016
    4
    A fall from the success of the 'Catching Fire' album, the poorly led Mockingjay Part 1's album is an overall uneven album which doesn'tA fall from the success of the 'Catching Fire' album, the poorly led Mockingjay Part 1's album is an overall uneven album which doesn't reflect the mood of the movie and instead switches genres often. Expand

See all 10 User Reviews